Page:The Deipnosophists (Volume 2).djvu/145

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For I have never taken any great trouble In buying fish; * *

Should blame the gluttonous surfeits of their friends.
 * * So that others from rich banquets coming

And, indeed, I myself am not so violently fond of fish as the man in the Butalion of the same poet. (And that play is an amended edition of one of the Countryman's characters.) And he says—

A. And I to-day will give a feast to all of you; And take you money now, and buy the supper. B. Yes; for unless I've money I should hardly Know how to buy discreetly. But i' the first place, Tell me what food, what dishes you prefer. A. All kinds of food. B. But tell me separately. First now, should you approve of any fish? A. A fishmonger came once into the country With a good basketfull of sprats and triglides, And, by Jove, greatly he pleased all of us. B. Well, tell me then, should you now like some fish? A. Indeed I should, if they were very little. For all large fish I always fancy cannibals. B. What can you mean, my friend? A. Why, cannibals;— How can a man eat fish which eat up men? B. 'Tis plain enough that it is Helen's food This fellow means, just sprats and triglides.

And in his Countryman he also calls sprats and triglides the food of Hecate. And Ephippus too, disparaging small fish, in his Philyra, speaks as follows—

A. My father, would you like to go to market And buy some fish for me? B. What shall I buy? A. Some grown up fish, my father, no small babies. B. Do not you yet know all the worth of money?

58. And in the same poet, in his Spit-bearers, there is a very witty young man who disparages everything connected with the purchase of fish. And he speaks thus—

A. But while you buy, don't disregard economy, For anything will do. B. Just tell me how. A. Don't be expensive, though not mean or stingy; Whatever you may buy will be enough; Some squids and cuttle-fish; and should there be    Some lobsters in the market, let's have one— Some eels will look nice too upon the table—